UK team to inspect CHOGM facilities
Apr 18, 2006
Officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London arrive this morning to find out how prepared Uganda is to host the Common-wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2007.
By Felix Osike
Officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London arrive this morning to find out how prepared Uganda is to host the Common-wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2007.
Sources said the Secretariat was concerned about Uganda’s slow pace in putting in place the necessary facilities.
The CHOGM Planning Mission led by Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha will be in Kampala from today to April 21 to discuss plans for the CHOGM.
Mugasha and her team will meet President Yoweri Museveni and the Minister of State for International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem.
They will also meet the Ugandan Task Force on administrative and logistic plans. Joel Kibazo, the Commonwealth Secret-ariat spokesman and director of communication, Matthew Neuhaus, the Political affairs director, Sharaff Udin Syed, special adviser on political affairs, Ayo Oke from Mugasha’s office and Lorna Mclarren, the head of the conference section, are on the team.
“The flag has been waved. Preparations are fully underway. We are coming to Uganda to discuss the arrangements in place. The idea is to look at all the aspects: the venue, plan for logistics, the theme to be addressed by the leaders,†Kibazo said on phone.
He said the Secretariat had not received any petition against the Queen’s visit to Uganda.
“We have got none of those complaints and Her Majesty, the Queen is looking forward to paying a visit to Uganda in 2007,†said Kibazo, adding that the team would discuss arrangements for the Queen’s accommodation and visit proposed venues for CHOGM events.
Uganda needs at least 3,000 hotel rooms of international standard and 60 presidential suites.
There are about 800 hotel rooms of international standard in Kampala and Entebbe but there is a concerted effort by the hoteliers to create more rooms.
Officials from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London arrive this morning to find out how prepared Uganda is to host the Common-wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2007.
Sources said the Secretariat was concerned about Uganda’s slow pace in putting in place the necessary facilities.
The CHOGM Planning Mission led by Deputy Secretary-General Florence Mugasha will be in Kampala from today to April 21 to discuss plans for the CHOGM.
Mugasha and her team will meet President Yoweri Museveni and the Minister of State for International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem.
They will also meet the Ugandan Task Force on administrative and logistic plans. Joel Kibazo, the Commonwealth Secret-ariat spokesman and director of communication, Matthew Neuhaus, the Political affairs director, Sharaff Udin Syed, special adviser on political affairs, Ayo Oke from Mugasha’s office and Lorna Mclarren, the head of the conference section, are on the team.
“The flag has been waved. Preparations are fully underway. We are coming to Uganda to discuss the arrangements in place. The idea is to look at all the aspects: the venue, plan for logistics, the theme to be addressed by the leaders,†Kibazo said on phone.
He said the Secretariat had not received any petition against the Queen’s visit to Uganda.
“We have got none of those complaints and Her Majesty, the Queen is looking forward to paying a visit to Uganda in 2007,†said Kibazo, adding that the team would discuss arrangements for the Queen’s accommodation and visit proposed venues for CHOGM events.
Uganda needs at least 3,000 hotel rooms of international standard and 60 presidential suites.
There are about 800 hotel rooms of international standard in Kampala and Entebbe but there is a concerted effort by the hoteliers to create more rooms.